System for metering liquids



`Iuly 2l, 1936. R. M. cUTTs SYSTEM FOR METERNG LIQUIDS Filed March 2,41932 2 sheets-sheet 1 July 21, 1936. R, M. cuTTs SYSTEM FOR METERNGLIQUIDS Filed March 2, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIIM //////YVVCittorneg Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES rarest OFFICE SYSTEM FORMETERING LIQUIDS Richard M. Cutts, Newport, R. i.; Richard M. Cutts,Jr., and The American Security and Trust Company executors of saidRichard M.

Cutts, deceased This invention relates to the metering of liquids andhas for its object to provide a system for metering and dispensing whichis more eflicient in operation, and cheaperrin m-anufac- 5 turing coststhan those heretofore proposed.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the noveldetails of construction and arrangements of parts as will appear morefully hereinafter and be particularly 10 pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings forming a part of thisspecification in which like numerals designate like parts-in all theviews,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic showing, partly in 15 section, illustrating amethod of carrying out this invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the air control valve illustrated in a,different position from that shown in Fig. 1;

20 Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic showing, mostly in section, illustrating amodiiied form of this invention;

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the feed control valve shown inFig. 3, taken as on the line 4 4 thereof and looking in the direction ofthe arrow; and

Fig. 5 is a partial sectional view of the feed control Valve illustratedin a different position from that shown in Fig. 3. 30 This invention isp-articularly directed to a system wherein a liquid from a single sourceis dispensed in a measured quantity into a container especially intendedto hold said quantity and such, for example, as those for containingwell known bottled commodities.

The system further contemplates the repeated dispensing of apredetermined or measured quantity of a liquid into any containerwhether intended solely to hold said liquid or to receive 40 the saidmeasured quantity in addition to other liquid, semi-liquid, or solidingredients. Also, this invention includes either manual or automaticmanipulation of the valve for controlling the feed of the liquid beingdispensed, the former 45 being p-articularly shown in the drawings forthe sake of clearness, the automatic control includingV any Well knownelectric or mechanical device of clock, coin or other operating designas best suits the needs of the system. In addition to filling bottlesand other similar containers, either wholly or in part, this system isadmirably adapted to the regulated and repeated feeding of a lubricantto a bearing or to a plurality of bearings inran assemblage of mov- 55ing mechanisms.V In such cases the lubricant would be fed preferablyfrom a single source to the bearings in the system, the feeding of thelubricant being initiated at stated time or other periods, eachinitiation sending lubricant to all the bearings, and each bearingreceiving a predetermined quantity of lubricant suiiicient for thatperiod of lubrication. Also, this system is applicable to machinery ingeneral, that is to a single machine having plural bearings or toamachine shop or factory containing many individual machines or unitsthereof.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that this system contemplates thelling of bottles, .tc. or the lubrication of bearings which may be atdifferent elevatio-ns with respect to the liquid supply reservoir andtherefore this system con'- templates a construction and operation whichwill adequately supply the higher bottles and/or bearings with theirrequired liquid and/or lubricant While the lower bottles and/or bearingsare receiving theirs. Not only this, but provision is made herein toprevent syphoning and/or gravity return of the liquid and/ or lubricantin a direction toward said reservoir, thereby preventing entry ofairinto the delivery ends of the service conduits, and in turnpreventing the possibility of a bottle and/or bearing never receiving anintended subsequent delivery of liquid and/or lubricant, as well aspreventing a partial delivery thereof. In the following, for clearness,this system, its construction of parts, and its operation Will bedescribed with relation to its employment for dispensing a lubricant tobearings.

This invention is directed to a systemV well adapted to employ themeasuring valve forming the subject matter of my copending applicationSerial No. 251,396 filed February 2, 1928, issued Sept. 13, 1932 asPatent No. 1,877,124.

Referring to the drawings, l indicates a tank or any suitable containerfor air under pressure which air is admitted thereto as through theinlet valve 2. l The tank l is connected by a pipe 3 to a three-Waymaster control valve generally indicated by the numeral 4, which valve,when in the position shown in Fig. l, will reduce to atmospheric thepressure in the system, and when in the-position shown in Fig. 2 willadmit to the system air under pressure from said tank. In the pipe 3there is` provided a branch 5 leading to a suitable pressure gauge 6whereby the 50 amount of pressure in the air tank I may b determined atany time.

In the case of port-able machines, such as an automobile, the air tankcan be filled at anyservice station, or it may be filled` by employing.55A

the usual pump, in which case the valve 2 is preferably of theautomobile tire valve type. In large factories the master control valvel may be connected at any suitable point in an existent air line or,lacking this air line, the tank I may be directly, connected to acompressor through the inlet valve 2.

A pipe 'I connects the master control valve with the top of a tank orreservoir 8 for the lubricant supply, said tank having a removable coverin which Vis located a suitable filler opening closed by any suitabletight iitting cap S, said cover preferably sealed as by a gasket to themain body portion ofthe tank to prevent escape of air pressuretherefrom. The bottom wall of the tank is provided with a clean-out plugI0, and a suitable screen II is disposed across the tank near its bottomfor collecting any foreignmatter or sediment that may be in thelubricant and which might otherwise be forced into the main line andservice .conduits of the system preventing proper operation.V Y Y Justbelow the screen II, the tank is provided with an outlet communicatingwith a pipe I2 leading to a vmain line check valve containing theweighted valve member generally indicated by the numeral I3. The top ofthis valve casing is adapted to prevent any sticking thereto of thevalve member I3 and in the drawings is shown to comprise a threaded plugifiV castellated on its under, valve engaging side. The delivery `sideof this check valve is connected to the main delivery conduit or lineYI5 which is of any desired length and supplied at suitable and necessarypoints with Ts furnishing means for connecting the mainline with thebranch or service conduits leading to the various bearings. Only twosuch branches have been illustrated for the sake of brevity, one leadingupwardly and the other leading downwardly to bearings appreciably outofthe horizontal plane of the reservoir 8, it being understood that nocomplications Would arise in the feeding of lubricant to bearings insaid plane.

Thus it will be seen that the branch conduit 20 leads upwardly from themain line conduit to a bearing which is disposed at an elevation abovethat of the lubricant supply tank 8, and the branch conduit 2l leadsdownwardly from said main line conduit for conducting the lubricant to abearing which is disposed at an elevation below that of said lubricantsupply tank, but in bo-th instances there is provided a metering valvebetween the main line and each bearing, said meteringY valve be-inggenerally indicated by the numeral 22 and forming the subject matter ofsaid copending application.

From what has been heretofore described, it will be apparent that whenthe main control valve 4 is in open position, as illustrated in Fig. 2,air-under pressure will be admitted to the upper region of the lubricantsupply tank 8, forcing lubricant therefrom through the valve I3 into themain line conduit I5 and into each branch conduit such as 20 or 2I toultimately reach and flush the bearing connected with each branchconduit. I'hese bearings have not been shown in the drawings since theywill be readily understood. `When all of. the bearings have beenlubricated the valve d is turned to closed position. as shown in Fig. l,whereupon flow of air under pressureY from the tank I will be shut offand the vpressure in the lubricating system will be relieved due to theYconnection of the pipe 'l with bearing and is designed to permit passageof the necessary amount of lubricant to its bearing in each lubricatingperiod, after which the lubricant supply to that bearing is cut off orstopped and no more lubricant will reach said bearing until the nextlubricating period. Each metering valve comprises a cylindrical chamberof a length to hold the necessary amount of lubricant for its particularbearing. A ball or similar member is located within the cylinder and isadapted to close alternately the inlet and outlet orices of thecylindrical chamber, said ball being free to move within the cylinderwith the lubricant flow therethrough; that is to say there is no springor other structure to retard or hinder the movement of said ball fromone end to the other of the cylinder.

When pressure is applied to the system the lubricant will now into themetering chamber Yand cause th-e ball therein to move upwardlyfrom itslowermost position shown in full lines in Fig. l with the lubricantflow, said ball being of a diameter less than the diameter of themetering chamber, the clearance thus established being dependent inamount in accordance with the average viscosity of the lubricant to bemetered, the clearance being less as the viscosity is lowered. Thisclearance permits the instant establishment of the hydrostatic pressureof the incoming lubricant to the lubricant in the chamber above theball. The velocity impact, of the incoming lubricant flow, is deliveredagainst the large under surface area of the ball with a unit valuegreater than the unit value of the excess specic gravity of the ballover that of. the lubricant, whereupon the ball will rise. Under theabove conditions, and when the diameter of the ball is properlyproportioned and calibrated to the diameter of the chamber, under quitewide temperature, velocity, and viscosity variations, substantially noliquid, or only an infinitesimal amount, will flow around the ball tothe chamber above the ball, wherefore the ball truly becomes aseparating member between the main lubricant supply and the lubricant inthe chamber above the ball which latter, when the ball is at thelowermost chamber position, is the predetermined amount of lubricantnecessary for and to be fed to the bearing. When the ball comes to restin the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1 and closes the outletopening of said metering chamber, there will be no further flow oflubricant into the chamber and the predetermined amount of lubricantwill have been forced toward the bearing.

When the pressure comes off the system the ball will be free to move,under the urge of gravity, downwardly through the lubricant in themetering chamber and to assume its original position as shown in fulllines in the drawings, the time for the descent of the ball beingregulated by its excess specific gravity over that of the lubricant, andthe viscosityof the latter. Since each bearing does not requiresubstantially constant lubrication but, on the `other hand, there may beseveral hours or longer time between the applications of the lubricantto the bearing, the ball will have more than enough time to assume itsposition at the inlet end of the metering chamber. When all of the ballsare in their uppermost positions, flow of lubricant in thesystem ceasesand, regardless of the pressure in tank 8, main line check valve I3 willclose. In this respect it should be stated that the member I3 must be ofsuflicient weight to retain its seat 'against the effective weight of acolumn of oil extending from it to the lowermost bearing in the systemthereby avoiding any syphoning ef.-

fect from the tank 8. The metering valves, of course, will bedimensioned in accordance with `the necessary amount of lubricant forthe bearings which they control, and this has been represented in thedrawings by showing the two metering valves of slightly differentdiameter, but Aof equal height.

It is to be understood that some of the bearings to be lubricated may betighter than others, thus creating a difference in resistance which mustbe overcome by the lubricant. This is accomplished in what might betermed an automatic manner since the looser bearings will receive theirsupply of lubricant first regardless of their position in the systembut, so long as the pressure remains on the lubricant in the tank 8',lubricant will be ultimately forced to and through the tighter bearings,there being :present in this respect merely the factor of time. When thelast bearing has received its shot of lubricant, then all of the ballsof the metering valveswill be in a position closingthe outlet ports, andsaid balls will remain in said position so long as the pressure stays onthe line, being released from said position when the pressure isrelieved from the system.

As above stated, the mainline check valve I3 will seat when the ball inthe last metering chamber'vto function reaches its uppermost position,thereby stopping all lubricant ilow in the system, but the seating ofvalve i3 normally would trap the applied pressure in the main lineconduit l and hold it even after releasing the pressure from tank 8through main control valve il. This` trapped pressure, however, wouldprevent the balls in the metering chambers from dropping and therebycause a failure of said chambers since they would not become rechargedfor the nent application of lubricating pressure. Since the totalrelease of pressure from the main lineconduit l5 is absolutely essentialto the recharging function of the metering chambers, there is provided'a pressure release valve generally indicated by the numeral 23communicating on one side with the main line conduit and connected onthe other side to the pipe l2 through the provision of the by-pass 2d.

For convenience this pressure release valve 23 is shown as comprising achamber whose lower end is threaded into the plug or cap Hl of the mainline check valve and whose upper end is connected to the by-pass 2d,`the parts 23 and 24 so arranged that they constitute a passage Whoseextremities are on opposite sides of the main line check valve member l3. Within the chamber of the pressure release Valve is a ball forclosing the lower end of the chamber thereby preventing a flow oflubricant through this lvalve in a direction from the tank 8 to the mainline conduit l5, said ball being prevented from closing the upper end ofsaid chamber by any suitable means such as the transverse pinillustrated. This ball must be less in Weight than any ball in themetering chambers 22 for otherwise thelatter would not leave itsuppermost position and the former would not be forced from its seat whenthe pressure was released from-tank 8. Y

In other words, the pressure release Valve ball is lifted by the forceof the trapped pressure in the main line conduit l5 above mentioned, andthis permits enoughlubric'ant (a drop or two) to escape back into thetank 8 to relieve the trapped pressure. The pressure in the main line I5being relieved, the pressure release valve ball will again seat, and theballs in the metering chambers will fall to their lower seats due totheir weight. The valve 23 and by-pass 24 are both made very smallthereby increasing the amount of surface tension or resistance withrespect to the contained lubricant, as a result of which there issubstantially no flow through these parts at any time. Also the mainline conduit I5 is of comparatively small diameter, even when heavy oilsare used, to impose a heavy resistance to the lubricant flow whichcauses a well dened progressive high pressure to exist in this line,bringing in turn each metering chamber successively under highpressures. With all bearings in proper condition it will be understoodthat normally each metering chamber completes its feed to a' bearingbefore the extreme peak of this high pressure reaches the next meteringchamber in the line. However, this last mentioned theoreticalfunctioning will change under various conditions as will be readilyapparent, but it remains a fact that so long as there is pressure in themain `line I5 the balls of the metering chambers will be forced to andkept at their upper seats regardless of sequence of meteringfunctioning.

Because some of the bearings may be disposed at an elevation above themain supply tank 8 it is necessary to make provision against gravityreturn or retrograde iiow of lubricant in the branch conduits 25 whenthe pressure comes off the line. This may occur owing to accidentalleakage in conduit 25, a general retrograde movement or" the lubricantbeing prevented by the seating of-valve I3, and later seating of ball invalve 22 on its lower seat. This is accomplished by the insertion, inthe branch line conduit `29, of a leakage preventer and pressure trapvalve generally indicated by the numeral 25 and comprising a chambercontaining a ball which in its lowermost position seats upon and closesthe lower orifice of its chamber and which is prevented from closing theupper orice thereof as by` a stop pin as illustrated. The lubricant flowthrough the metering chamber will cause simultaneousV flow through thebranch line conduit 2@ and pressure trap valve 25 to and into thebearing to be lubricated, but when this flow ceases by the meteringchamber ball assuming its upper seat then the ball in the pressure trapvalve 25 falls into and holds its seat.

When the pressure is relieved from the main line l5, the meteringchamber ball will fall to its lower seat, but the ball of valve 25 willprevent any flow back or retrograde movementof the lubricant in thebranch line conduit, and loss of lubricant from this conduit in case ofleaky joints between valve 22 and valve 25, as before stated, withconsequent disturbance of eX- act metering. The surface tension in valve23 willpermit no considerable amount of lubricantY tain amount ofpressure in the branch line depending upon the weight of its ball,because said bali seats practically simultaneously with the upperseating of the metering chamber ball.

Therefore, when the pressure is relieved from the main line I5 thistrapped pressure in the branch line permits the ball in the meteringchamber to descend immediately. It might be stated that the branch lineconduits 2G are of very small diameter thus establishing a relative- `lylarge amount of resistance to the flow of lubricant therethrough. Hencethe low atmospheric .pressure would hardly be sufficient to cause anyretrograde now in the system until all preventive valves'heretoforementioned have seated.

In the case of bearings disposed at elevations below that of thelubricant supply tank 8, it is not absolutely necessary to employ, inthe branch line conduit such as 2l, a valve of the nature of valve 25above described. However, in the drawings Y there is disclosed a valvegenerally indicated by the numeral 2E which is a pressure trap valve andin no sense of the word to be confused with a check valve. The valve hasno necessary action in'preventing the flow of oil in either direction,this being taken care of by the closure of valves I3 and 23 and theballs in the metering chambers 22. VValve 2S need only be installed Ywhen the weight of the effective oil column in the branch conduit 2'I isgreater than the weight of the ball in the metering chamber associatedwith said branch conduit. In fact use of the valve 25 may be obviatedwithin a wide range, by increasing the weight of the ball in theassociated metering chamber.

However, various weights of ballsV for diierently located meteringchambers would tend to cause errors in installations, and the use of thepressure trap 26 permits all balls in all the metering chambers to bethe same in weight and uniform in dimension. In other words, ashereinbefore suggested, certain bearings may require more lubricationthan others and therefore it is desirable to provide metering chambersof differing volume, which may be accomplished in various ways; forexample all chambers could have the same diameter but have differinglengths, or all the chambers could have the same length with'differingdiameters, or the chambers Ycould be provided with elongated balls orseparating members such that their lesser dimensions would be equal buttheir lengths would be different thereby creating a difference involumetric capacity of the associated chambers.

The pressure trap or valve 25 contains a ball 21 vseating upward againstthe normal oil pressure by virtue of a coil spring 28, the lower end ofthe latter being disposed about an internal boss 29 provided in itssides with suitable openings 30, the construction being such that theball 21 ymay close the upper opening ofthe valve chamber but not thelower openings. The spring 26 must have an initial compression in powerslightly in excess of the effective weight of the oil column from theball seat in the metering chamber to the bearing to be lubricated. Afterthe closure of the metering chamber, by its ball reaching its upperseat, lubricant ow ceases through the branch conduit 2 I.

I When the pressure in the branch line has dropped toV a value equal tothe excess power of the compression of the spring 28 over the eectiveweight of the oil column in the entire branch line,

the ball 21 will close andV trap a pressure in the branch line betweenthe valve 26 and its asso- .ciated metering chamber, which pressure willbe equal to this spring power. When the pressure in the main line I5 isreduced below the pressure in the branch line 2l the meteringchamber'ball will leave its upper seat and pass to its lower seat toreestablish in the metering chamber a predetermined amount of lubricantto be subsequently l fed to its associated bearing but, when this 5occurs, there will be no retrograde flow of oil because valve I3 hasalready seated, followed by the seating of the ball on its lower seat invalve 22, and valve 23 has too great a surface tension to permit anyappreciable oil ow until the ball in valve 22 has denitely closed theconduit. Syphoning effect is prevented by closure of valves I3 and 23,the weight of the moving element in valve I3 always being greater thanthe weight of the column of oil from that valve to the lowest 15 bearingto be lubricated. Loss of oil in conduit 2l due to possible lineleakage, is prevented by seating of ball 21, thus definitely closing theconduit at both ends.

Referring particularly to the modification shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5,substantially the same principles are involved as disclosed above. Thatis to say, lubricant from the main supply tank may be fed by gravity, asthrough the pipe 4U, or may be fed under air pressure from said tank, asthrough the pipe 4I, to ultimately flow through the pipe 42 to a mainfeed control valve generally indicated by the numeral 43, and throughsaid valve into the main line conduit 44 to ultimately reach a T 45associated with which is one of the 30 metering valves Z2. Leading fromthe metering valve is a branch conduit 45 which may lead to a bearing insubstantially the same horizontal plane with the metering valve or whichmay connect with the conduits 41 and/or 48 leading 35 respectively tobearings above and/or below said plane. The T 45 is provided with adrain cock 49.

'Ihe main feed control valve 43 may comprise a cylindrical chamberhaving a tapered valve stem or plug 5I) therein, the lower end of whichis provided with an integral stem 5I extending through an openingprovided therefor in the bottom of the valve casing, with a spring 52coiled about the external end of said steam and which is interposedbetween the outer surface of the valve casing and a disk 53 held by thepin 54 on said stem. Thus it will be 'seen that by virtue of the spring52 the plug 55 is maintained in tight contact with the inner surface ofthe valve casing whenever the plug is turned as by the aid of the handle55. The Valve plug is provided with a diametric bore 56 of approximatelythe same size as the internal diameter of the pipes 42 and 44, said borebeing positioned for registry with said pipes when the valve is in openposition as illustrated in Fig. 3.

The valve plug is also provided with a pressure release passage 51comprising a long bore extending from the top of the Vpluglongitudinally thereof with its lower end communicating with a 60 shortradial bore extending inwardly from the surface of said plug, theshorter bore disposed to register with the pipe 44 when the valve is inclosed position, as clearly shown in Fig. 5. Further, the bores are sodisposed that not only is there no communication between the passage 51and the main feed bore 58, but also is there no communication betweensaid passage 51 and the main feed pipe 44 until the feed bore 56 hasposi- 7o tively moved out of registration with the feed line. Thepassage 51 is of extremely small diameter as compared with the otherliquid conducting passages.

From the foregoing it will thus be clear that,

according to this modification, lubricant owing either under the urge ofgravity or under applied air pressure (the latter as disclosed inFig. 1) will reach the main control valve 43 and, if the same be in openposition as shown in Fig. 3, flow therethrough to the metering chamber22 where the lubricant flow will cause the ball of the chamber to risefrom its lowermost seat in a direction toward, and to ultimately close,the outlet port of said chamber. When the ball reaches its extremeuppermost position in the chamber, lubricant flow will cease but, in itsmovement from the bottom to the top of said chamber, the ball will rise,acting as a separator between the incoming lubricant and the lubricantalready in the chamber above the ball, and without permitting theincoming lubricant to pass the ball while the feeding pressure is on,said ball will permit the predetermined amount of lubricant in that partof the chamber above the ball to pass through the branch service pipe46, with full line pressure, to the bearing to be lubricated, all ashereinbefore described. After the last bearing has received its shot oflubricant there will be no more flow of lubricant in the system, butthere will still be pressure therein as will be readily understood, andwhich pressure must be relieved before the balls of the meteringchambers will fall to their lowermost positions to reestablish thepredetermined amount of lubricant therein for their respective bearings.

When the last bearing has received its lubrication, the main controlvalve 43 is turned to its closed position, or that shown in Fig. 5,whereupon it will be impossible for any lubricant to pass through thevalve and the pressure vent 51 will have been brought into registrationwith the main line conduit 44 as a result of which the pressure isimmediately reduced in the main line to that of the atmosphere withwhich the vent passage is in open communication. As soon as the pressurehas been released from the main line, the balls of the metering chamberswill be free to fall to their lowermost positions within the chambersand, during their downward travel, no lubri cant will be forced throughthe vent passage not only because of the small dimension thereof butbecause the uppermost extremity of said passage is normally disposedabove the horizontal plane ofthe uppermost reach of the service orbranch conduit 46 which plane is represented in the drawings by the dashline 6B. The effective vertical column of oil being delivered isrepresented by the dashed une al terminating at the point a2 in theplane and the point 63 in the horizontal plane of the lowermost reach ofthe main feed conduit 44.

When the bearing to be lubricated is disposed in a plane above the handcontrol valve 43, and to which the lubricant would be forced as throughthe pipe 41, then a pressure trap valve such as hat dieeiosed at 25 inFig. 1 is preferably employed, and which will serve to prevent anyretrograde now of lubricant back through the branch and main lineconduits when the control valve 43 is closed and the pressure vent 51 isin communication with the main line conduit. It should be obvious that abearing could be disposed at such a high elevation that the weight ofthe effective column of oil, between it and the uppermost extremity ofthe pressure vent 51, would be such as to cause a high pressuresufficient to force the ball in the metering chamber quickly to itslowermost seat which, in turn, would cause a squirting of oil from themain line conduit through the pressure vent as well as interfere withaccurate metering. This would not be so where the bearing to belubricated was disposed between the horizontal planes containing thepoints 62 and 63, since, in 5 that event, the metering chamber ballwould move slowly through the lubricant in the chamber by virtue solelyof its weight in the lubricant.

It should also be obvious that when there is a bearing to be lubricatedwhich is at an elevation appreciably below the horizontal planeincluding the point 63 and to which lubricant would flow as through theservice conduit 48, then there should be incorporated in said conduit apressure trap of the nature of that shown at 26 in Fig. 1, and having aspring of a strength greater than the weight of the effective column ofoil between the ball of said trap and the top of the pressure vent 51,thereby trapping Va pressure in line 46 greater than the weight of theoil in that line, to insure the unseating of the ball from its upperseat in valve 22 as well as preventing any syphoning of oil to andthrough the bearing when the pressure vent 51 is in open communicationwith the main line conduit. When the pressure trap valves such as 25and/or 26 are used, it is then not necessary that the dimension of thepressure vent 51 be of relatively small diameter since the closing or'said valves dwould be effectual in preventing any passage of lubricantthrough the pressure vent 30' and/or prevent any syphoning ofthelubricant from the main line conduit to a lower bearing. On the side ofsafety, however, the preferred installation would include the twopressure trap valves 25 and 26, except in the general metering ofYliquids such as filling bottles, metering 'flavoring extracts, etc.,where the plane of operations may easily be comprehended between points62 and 63 on line 6|. By lengthening conduits 44 and 46 in proportion,this plane may be increased' to include nearly all working limits, forth'ese operations.

The cock 49 is provided for draining the system as when there is desireda change of liquids, or for cleaning the'system, or for removing anysediment or foreign particles that may be inthe delivery line, etc. Thedraining of course, is accomplished by opening the cock and inserting awire which will pass upwardly through the T and raise the ball of themetering chamber off its lowermost seat. Another important feature ofthis invention, whether thesystem according to Fig. 1.or that accordingVto Fig. 3 is used, lies in the fact that the air Apressure used may bein any amount above atmospheric. This is so because` there is no wasteeither of air or oil since the balls of the metering chambers 22positively shut off lubricant flow afterthe predetermined amountoflubricant has been delivered from the metering chambers into theserviceconduits and therefore to the bearings. Another reason is thefact that the Vair under pressure travels no farther than `the Vspace inthe top of the lubricant tank 8 unless, of course, inadvertently thelubricant level in the tank fell 65 below the horizontal plane of thetank outlet, but since this is a condition never intended to occur thetank would be provided with a sight gauge or other liquid levelindicating device of any well known type.

Y Also it is to be particularly observed that by this invention there isprovided a systemwhich is applicable not only to the dispensing of`liquids including lubricants,` but which can be ap- 75 Y In such asystem there would be provided a meter-A lof? plied? to the handling ofmany fluids including gases, and in which the air pressure supply may bereplaced by a pump of any suitable character.

Yfluid flow only when moving in its upward direcasf tion as shown in thedrawings, and is quantitatively, independently, and repeatedly operativein response solely to its weight in the fluid and its displacement inthe metering chamber in its oppositeV movement. That is to say, the ballis given a `diameter with relation to the diameter of the chamber Ysothat the ball is truly calibrated with respect to the chamber therebypermitting a definite volume Vof uid to pass. said ball. Therefore themeasuring chambers may have different diameters with balls tocorrespondingly operate therein with such fixed ratio of diameters tobring about the true calibration and cause-the .correct functioning ofthe chambers.

In'the absence of proper terms or language it is said that by the termfluid pressure used in the following claims, as applied to the actuationof the separating elementV in the metering valve chamber by the uidbeing metered, is meant the velocity impact value of the rate of feedingthe liquid flow as established by the hydrostatic pressure, and aseffectively delivered in the form of pressure against the aforesaidseparating 4element or ball. Y

In general, this pressure or impact value against the separator or ballwill vary in value, in proportion to the square of the velocity of thefeeding liquid, Ywhile the resistance of the separator element or ball.is its weight in the liquid, which latter always remains a constant.

.Itis obvious that those skilled in the art may varytheV details ofconstruction as well as arrangements of parts without departing from thespirit of the invention,V and therefore it is not desired to be limitedtothe foregoing except as may be required by the claims. .f

What is claimed isz- 1. Asystem for dispensing liquids including-aliquidV supply and a conduit for conveying the liquid -from said supply;pressure means for establishing lliquid flow in said conduit; a meteringchamber in said conduit; a separating member insaid chamber forestablishing a predetermined quantity of Aliquid to be forced .from saidchamber upon the following application of pressure causing liquid flow;a check valve in said conduit offer a resistance to liquid flow-backthereby in- 7 suring said predetermined quantity being rees- Itablished.

, 2.`A system for dispensingliquidsV including faliquid supply aridaconduit for conveying the liquid from said supply; pressure means vfores- 'i 'tablishing liqui'd 'flow in said conduit; means to maintain theapplied pressure in a portion of said conduit, said means including ametering chamber Vand a check valve disposed between said chamber andsaid supply; a separating member in said chamber for establishing apredetermined quantity of liquid to be forced from said chamber upon thefollowing application of pressure causing liquid flow; and means forrelieving the pressure in said portion of said conduit therebypermitting said member to reestablish 16.? said predetermined quantity,said means including a restricted passage and a valve associatedtherewith, said passage by-passing said check valve and adapted to offera resistance to liquid flow-back thereby insuring said predetermined1&5'- quantity being reestablished.

3. A system for dispensing liquids including a liquid supply and aconduit for conveying the liquid from said supply; pressure means forestablishing liquid flow in said conduit; a metering 202 chamber in saidconduit; a separating member in said chamber for establishing apredetermined quantity of liquid to be forced from said chamber upon thefollowing application of pressure causing liquid flow; and pressurerelieving means for 25# permitting said member to reestablish saidpredetermined quantity, said means including a restricted passageparallelly connected with said conduit, said passage by-passing a checkvalve Y, disposed between said chamber and said supply, 36'; saidpassage adapted to offer a resistance to liquid flow-back therebyinsuring said predetermined quantity being'reestablished.

4. A system for dispensingliquids including a M liquid supply and aconduit for conveying the 353' liquid from said supply; pressure meansfor establishin@ liquid flow in said conduit; means to trap the -appliedpressure in a portion of said conduit, said means including a meteringchamber and a check valve disposed between said chamber and saidsupply;` a separating member in said chamberY for establishing apredetermined quantity of liquid to be forced from said chamber upon thefollowing application of pressure causing liquid flow; and means forrelieving the pressure in i said portion of said conduit therebypermitting said member to reestablish said predetermined quantity, saidmeans including a restricted passage parallelly connected with saidconduit and a valve associated therewith, said passage bypassing saidcheck valve and adapted to oder a resistance to liquid flow-back therebyinsuring said predetermined quantity being reestablished.

5. A uid dispensing system in which the uid under pressure is caused toflow from a supply to and through a metering chamber as well as a checkvalve disposed between said chamber and said supply, said` chamberprovided with a separating member for establishing a metered quantity ofuid to be forced from said chamber upon the following application ofpressure, said member stopping fluid flow through said chamber when saidpredetermined quantity has passed therefrom; and in which the pressureis positively relieved from between said chamber and 65" said valve topermit movement of said member for establishing the next meteredquantity of fluid to be dispensed, said relief brought about `by arestricted passage and a valve therein, said passage by-passing saidcheck valve.

6. A system for metering liquids including meansr for separatingpredetermined quantities of the liquid from the Vliquid supply; pressuremeans for establishing liquid flow of the preref determinedquantities'fr'om the system; means for 75' reestablishing thepredetermined quantities ready for dispensing upon a subsequentapplication of pressure in the system; and means for relieving thepressure between said dispensations, said means including a liquidpassage around a check valve, said passage parallelly connected to themain line of liquid supply and offering a resistance to liquid ilowback.

7. A system for dispensing liquids including a `liquid supply and aconduit for conveying the liquid from said supply; pressure means forestablishing liquid flow in said conduit; a metering chamber in saidconduit; a separating member in said chamber and devoid of springtension for establishing a predetermined quantity of liquid to be forcedfrom said chamber upon the following application of pressure causingliquid flow; and pressure relieving means for permitting said member toreestablish said predetermined quane tity, said means including anelement in said conduit to prevent liquid how-back toward said supplyand a restricted passage parallelly connected with said conduit aroundsaid element, said passage adapted to offer a resistance to liquidflow-back thereby insuring said predetermined quantity beingreestablished.

8. A uid dispensing system in which the uid under pressure is caused toflow from a supply to and through a metering chamber as Well as a checkvalve disposed between said chamber and said supply, said chamberprovided with a separating member for establishing a metered quantity offluid to be forced from said chamber upon the following application ofpressure, said member stopping fluid flow through said chamber when saidpredetermined quantity has passed therefrom; and in which the pressureis positively relieved from between said chamber and said valve topermit movement of said member for establishing the next meteredquantity of uid 10 to be dispensed, said relief being brought about by arestricted passage and an element associated therewith to prevent liquidow from said supply, said passage by-passing said check valve.

9. A system for metering liquids including means for separatingpredetermined quantities of the liquid from the liquid supply; pressuremeans for establishing liquid flow of the predetermined quantities fromthe system; means devoid of spring tension for reestablishing thepredetermined quantities ready for dispensing upon a subsequentapplication of pressure in the system; and means for relieving thepressure between said dispen'sations, said means including a liquidpassage around a check valve disposed between the liquid supply and theseparating means, said passage offering a resistance to liquid flowtoward the supply.

RICHARD M. CUTTS.

